The Plains Indians - Social Structure

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Tribes and Bands

Lots of tribes combined together to make up the 'Plains Indians'. Lots of bands combined together to make tribes.

Bands

Bands were sub-groups in a tribe. More than 1 band would be part of the same tribe.
A band had roughly 30-200 people in it.
150 is called Dunbar's number. It is thought to be the maximum number of people that can exist in a coherent, functioning sub-group. It would make sense if the bands had roughly 150 people in them.
Within each band, there was a chief who ruled the band. The chief would consult the band's council when making decisions.
The most important thing for a band was survival. You had to act for the good of the band, rather than for yourself.

Chiefs

The most popular, most powerful and most successful members of a band were elected as the band's chief.
Prestige and power in western American society were usually earned through hunting or fighting prowess.
Chiefs would make the final decisions for the band - usually focusing on where they should move to and where they should set up camp.

Tribes and councils

Lots of bands would be in the same tribe.
The most famous Plains Indian tribes are the Apache, Cheyenne, Osage Nation, Sioux, and Blackfoot tribes.
Tribes would arrange an annual meeting to meet with the chiefs and elders from all of the different bands.
Elders were wise people who transmitted culture and values in Plains Indians societies.
The different bands in the Sioux tribe would all help each other. The different bands in the Apache tribe would all help each other, and so on!

Warrior society

The best hunters and fighters from a band would be put in a group called the 'warrior society'.
The warrior society was in charge of defense against attacks and hunting.
The warrior society was important and would have influence over the band's chief and council.

Decision Making and Gender Roles

Decisions were made differently in Plains Indians societies.

Decision making

In modern American society, decisions are usually made by a single leader.
In Plains Indians' bands, decision-making was collective. The council had to unanimously agree to a decision (everyone had to agree).
If a person disagreed with a decision, they could splinter off from the group and go where they wanted instead.

Gender roles

In Plains Indians' bands, the men usually hunted, protected the tribe and looked after the tribe's defense. The men were called 'braves'.
The women in these bands usually looked after the cooking, the home (called a tipi) and also fixed and manufactured clothes. The women were called 'squaws'. They would tan animal hides for clothing or the home. Squaws were allowed to divorce their husbands.
Women (squaws) looked after the home and fed the family. They also made clothing.
Braves (men) and squaws (women) would both teach the band's children the skills that they need to learn to survive.

Elders

Elders were wise, but they were old. The Plains Indians respected age, wisdom and spirituality.

1The Early Settlement of the West, c1835-c1862

1.1The Plains Indians: Beliefs & Way of Life

1.1.1The Plains Indians - Social Structure

1.1.2The Plains Indians - Way of Life

1.1.3End of Topic Test - Social & Tribal Structures

1.1.4Grade 9 - The Plains Indians

1.2Migration & Early Settlement

1.2.1The Oregon Trail & Gold Rush

1.2.2Manifest Destiny

1.2.3Major Migrations - Donner, Mormon & Farmer

1.2.4End of Topic Test - Migration and Early Settlement

1.2.5Grade 9 - The Early Settlement of the West

1.3Conflict & Tension

1.3.1Fort Laramie Treaty & Indian Appropriations Act

1.3.2Lawless Towns

1.3.3End of Topic Test - Conflict & Tension

2Development of the Plains, c.1862–c.1876

2.1The Development of Settlement in the West

2.1.1Causes of the American Civil War

2.1.2The American Civil War

2.1.3Homesteading & Railroads 1862-1876

2.1.4Continuing Law & Order Problems 1862-1876

2.1.5Ranching, Cattle & Cowboys 1862-1876

2.1.6End of Topic Test - Development of the Plains

2.2Changes in the Way of Life of the Plains Indians

2.2.1Impact of Railroads & Settlers 1862-1876

2.2.2Impact of the Peace Policy & Reservations

2.2.3The Indian Wars (1862-1868)

2.2.4End of Topic Test - Changes in the Way of Life

2.2.5Grade 9 - Development of the Plains

3Conflicts & Conquest, c.1876–c.1895

3.1Changes in Farming & Settlement

3.1.1Farming & the Cattle Industry 1876-1895

3.1.2The Exoduster Movement & Oklahoma Land Rush

3.1.3End of Topic Test - Exodusters, Land Rush & Cattle

3.2Conflict & Tension

3.2.1Billy the Kid, Wyatt Earp and the Range Wars

3.2.2Little Big Horn, the Ghost Dance & Wounded Knee

3.2.3Destroying the Indian Way of Life

3.2.4End of Topic Test - Conflict and Tension

3.2.5Grade 9 - Conflicts & Tension

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